PATRICIA OLGUÍN

Patricia Olguín’s sculptures combine metal, resin, granite and wood into pieces that play textures off of one another to a strong effect. Of her materials, wood was the first that really inspired her. “From the very beginning,” Olguín says, “I was extremely fascinated by wood. It seduces me with its smells, its colors, the quality of its surfaces.” That sensual essence is apparent in all of Olguín’s works. Creating elegant curves and shapes, she gives the wood elements in her pieces a smooth, glowing surface while respecting its inherent grain and irregularities. Because of this, her sculptures provocatively bridge the gap between the natural and refined.

That energy is heightened by the other materials Olguín brings into her work. Metallic surfaces contrast with the natural radiance of the wood, while the brightly colored resins she incorporates add another level of visual counterpoint. In addition, there is a level of playfulness that makes those combinations all the more engaging. Olguin says her goal is to “alter people’s atmospheres,” and the mix of materials and approaches she employs allows her to easily realize that goal.

Patricia Olguin was the recipient of the Art Berliner Prize 2016 and currently works as a short course lecturer inSculpture at the West Dean College, England.